Connecticut Governor's Race Results: Dems Declare Victory for Governor, Treasurer and Secretary of the State

By David Gurliacci, Rich Scinto and Barbara Heins (Patch editors)

Update 5 p.m.: Voters rejected the statewide referendum question that would have allowed the legislature to craft an early-voting law, according to CT News Junkie.

Incumbent Secretary of the State Denise Merrill claimed victory and her Republican challenger Peter Lumaj conceded, according to the Hartford Courant.

State Treasurer Denise Nappier declared victory Wednesday afternoon after she was leading by more than 9,000 votes, according to the Courant.

Update: 2:45 p.m.: At a press conference Gov. Dannel Malloy outlined the next steps for his administration, especially as budget season looms come January.

“I’m really revved up about the next four years,” he said after thanking supporters and running mate Lt. Gov Nancy Wyman. “...We will have I can assure you a full legislative agenda ready to go by January 7.”

Malloy once again said he doesn’t anticipate any new taxes and one of his top priorities will be growing the economy of the state while paying the state’s obligations.

Malloy cracked a few jokes during the press conference. One reporter asked if his style as a governor would change and Malloy said he will likely wear more jeans.

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-5) who also won in one of the tighter state congressional races said there is no doubt Washington will be a tough environment Some of her goals include helping the state maintain good education, especially in STEM fields and to help secure money to upgrade the state’s aging infrastructure.

Malloy said he is ready to work across the aisle to make the state a better place and is open to discussion on any issue except for one that has to do with repealing the state’s new gun law.

Asked about some of the Election Day debacles in Hartford and New Haven, Malloy said that there were abridgements to voter rights that have to be investigated. Several Hartford polling locations didn’t have voter registration lists at 6 a.m. yesterday when they are mandated to have them by 8 p.m. on Monday.

In New Haven officials were ill-prepared for a surge in same-day voter registration and many were turned away when the clock struck 8 p.m.

Update 1:18 p.m.: Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley’s campaign posted a message on the campaign website regarding the election.

“We came very close. Our appeal for change in Connecticut – pro-growth policies including lower taxes, more responsible spending, and more support for job creators – was endorsed by more than 48% of Connecticut voters,” Foley said in the letter to supporters. “Governor Malloy won this election with fewer votes than we won in 2010.”

He thanked campaign volunteers and said the campaign did significantly better in cities than it did in 2010, but lost ground in smaller towns.

Gov. Dannel Malloy at last count had 508,317 votes to Foley’s 488,919, according to WTNH.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill claimed victory over Republican challenger Peter Lumaj shortly before 1:30 p.m.

Update 1:10 p.m.: The state treasurer race is still too close to call. It looks like it will be a nail-biter finish with a possible recount as Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst aims to unseat longtime Democrat incumbent Denise Nappier.

Update 10:43 a.m.: Tom Foley said this would be his last time running for governor in Connecticut, according to the Connecticut Post. Results aren’t official yet and Foley hasn’t conceded. At last count Gov. Dannel Malloy had 51 percent of the vote to Foley’s 48 percent, according to WTNH. The vote tally is 488,297 for Malloy and 466,306 for Foley with about 91 percent of precincts reporting. It appears that Malloy will beat Foley by a wider margin than in 2010.

Gov. Dannel Malloy declared victory in his race for re-election well past midnight Wednesday morning, and his challenger, Tom Foley admitted he had probably lost the race that precinct reports appeared to show as close throughout the night.

While still awaiting results from such cities as Waterbury, East Hartford, Norwalk and Malloy’s home town of Stamford — all well-populated, urban areas where Malloy could expect to build a victory margin — the governor gave a victory speech, and Foley gave a speech in which he said he had “probably” lost.

“We are going to win this thing,” Malloy told a cheering crowd shortly before 1 a.m.

Soon afterward, Foley told his own crowd, “Don’t get too excited, we probably have lost.”

Foley pointed out that Malloy had declared victory without first getting the traditional concession phone call from the other candidate. Foley then said that while he “probably” lost, he didn’t have enough facts to be sure. The candidate said he was going to bed and suggested everybody else do the same.

As of 1:37 a.m., with 74 percent of precincts reporting, Malloy had 50.5 percent of the vote to Foley’s 48.4 percent, and 415,837 counted votes, compared with Foley’s 398,510, according to the New York Times. Joseph Visconti had 1.1 percent of the votes, or 8,967.

Updated: 1:21 a.m.

Republican Tom Foley gave supporters a mixed message that was neither a concession speech nor a victory celebration, but in the end sounded like he was conceding.

Foley addressed supporters about 12:45 a.m. in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Greenwich, saying, “This is extremely close. We actually are not sure we’ve lost the race the way (Dan Malloy)‘s not sure he’s won. We probably have lost it but we’re not sure we have lost the race.”

The 62-year-old Foley added, “Don’t get too excited, we probably have lost.”

Foley thanked his wife Leslie “for her support during all those long nights when I was in the far corner at RTC (Republican Town Committee) meetings not getting home until 10 or 10:30 at night.” He also thanked his running mate Heather Somers of Groton praising her for “coming from behind and through hard work and clever politicking came through. She has a future” in politics.”

Foley added, “I want to thank the campaign staff who may have brought us to victory … I regret that I am not able to deliver to Connecticut what I wanted to deliver, what we have dreamed and feel is in the best interest of this great state. I am sorry I can’t deliver what I wanted.”

According to WCBS 880, within minutes of Foley’s speech, the crowds began disperse, leaving mostly reporters in the ballroom.

Updated: 12:50 a.m.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has declared victory in the gubernatorial election.

“We are going to win this thing,” he said around 12:30 a.m.

Malloy said he and his supporters won because of the implementation of a higher wage, mandated paid sick leave, an earned income tax credit, good implementation of the Affordable Care Act, better graduation rates and lower crime.

The race hasn’t been officially called by the Associated Press, local television stations or networks, but quite a few of the larger cities, which tend to favor Democrats, haven’t reported. Bridgeport, Waterbury and East Hartford haven’t yet reported results, according to a Hartford Courant online database. Neither has Malloy’s hometown, Stamford.

Update 12:24 a.m.:

Now with 63 percent of precincts reporting, Tom Foley’s share is 49.5 percent of the votes, with Gov. Dannel Malloy with 49.3 percent — a diffeence of 1,228 votes, according to the New York Times.

Foley so far has 347,785 votes counted; Malloy, 346,457. Joseph Visconti, with 1.1 percent, has 7,826 votes.

Update 12:20 a.m.: Talk about a squeaker: With 61 percent of precincts reporting, Tom Foley has 49.5 percent of the votes, with Gov. Dannel Malloy with 49.4 percent — a diffeence of 269 votes, according to the New York Times.

Foley has 334,523 votes counted so far; Malloy has 334,254. Joseph Visconti, with 1.1 percent, has 7,491 votes.

Update 12:02 a.m.: With 55 percent of precincts counted, Tom Foley still has 50.4 percent of the votes counted (305,273); Gov. Dannel Malloy has 48.5 percent (293,467); Joseph Visconti, 1.1 percent (6,693), according to the New York Times.

Update 11:51 p.m.: Republican challenger Tom Foley still has the lead, the Connecticut Post, says on its website, with 50 percent to 49 percent for Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat. With 54 percent of precincts reporting, Foley has 298,598 votes counted so far; Malloy, 285,827 (a 12,771-vote difference).

A total of 382 precincts out of 701 have reported. Joseph Visconti has 1 percent of the votes (6,604).

Update 11:29 p.m.: With 51 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Connecticut Post, the numbers change, but the tight percentage remains the same: Republican challenger Tom Foley is in the (slight) lead with 50 percent (269,519 votes); Gov. Dannel Malloy has 49 percent (260,514 votes counted so far).

Joseph Visconti has 1 percent (6,024 votes), with 357 of 701 precincts counted.

Update 11:09 p.m.: The race remains tight with 45 percent of precincts reporting: Tom Foley has 50 percent (239,644 votes); Gov Dannel Malloy, 49 percent (233,151); Joseph Visconti, 1 percent (5,463), the Connecticut Post reports. This is from 315 of 701 districts.

Update 10:25 p.m.: Gov. Dannel Malloy and challenger Tom Foley remained neck and neck in vote totals as precinct reports roll in. The Democrat and Republican remained within a few points of each other, and fewer and fewer points as the vote counting continues.

As of 10:25 p.m., with 31 percent of precincts reporting, Foley has 50 percent (163,031 votes)to Malloy’s 49 percent (161,176), with Visconti trailing at 1 percent (3,590). That’s with a total of 218 out of 701 precincts reporting.

Update 10:04 p.m.: Mark Pazniokas of the Connecticut Mirror news website, tweets: “Malloy wins New Haven by 19,000 votes, beating his 2010 number. Overall, however, it looks like a long, tense night.”

With 26 percent of precints reporting results, the Connecticut Post says, Foley has taken the lead with 50 percent, Malloy at 49 and Visconti at 1. Foley has 131,279 votes so far; Malloy, 130,547 (that’s a difference of 732 votes); Visconti, 2,970. That’s with 185 of 701 precincts.

Update 9:54 p.m.: The Connecticut Post reports that 23 percent of precincts are now reporting (158 of 701), but the percentage hasn’t changed: 50 percent for Malloy, 49 percent for Foley: Malloy has 111,502, Foley has 110,902; Visconti has 2,514 (1 percent of the total).

Update 9:51 p.m.: The precinct reports continue to tighten, now with 20 percent of precincts in, the Connecticut Post reports Malloy at 50 percent, Foley at 49 percent, Visconti at 1 percent. That’s 97,038 for Malloy; 94,790 for Foley and Visconti with 2,123 votes. A total of 113 precints out of 701 has reported.

Update 9:43 p.m.: With 16 percent of precincts reporting, Malloy has 51 percent to Foley’s 48 percent, according to the Connecticut Post., with Visconti still at 1 percent. That’s 83,677 votes for Malloy, 79,560 for Foley and 1,867 for Visconti.

Update 9:36 p.m.: Now, with 14 percent of precinct results in, it’s Malloy 52 percent (72,239), Foley 47 percent (66,058) and Visconti at 1 percent (926), according to the Connecticut Post. That’s from 98 of 701 precincts, according to the Post.

Update 9:23 p.m.: With 12 percent in, Connecticut Post says, it’s Malloy 53 percent (61,382), Foley 46 percent (53,395), Visconti 1 percent (1,251). That’s with 81 of 703 precincts reporting, according to the Post.

Update 9:16 p.m.: The Connecticut Post reports, with 8 percent of precincts in: Malloy, 54 percent (40,065); Foley, 45 percent (30,188); Visconti, 1 percent (714).

Update 9:13 p.m.: Now with 6 percent reporting, the percentage for Malloy is unchanged at 57 percent (32,504); for Foley, 42 percent (24,440); Visconti, 1 percent (565), according to NBC Connecticut.

Update 9:04 p.m.: Associated Press, with the same numbers as NBC Connecticut, adds that this represents 35 precincts out of 701 statewide.

Update 9:00 p.m.: With 5 percent of precincts reporting, Malloy’s still at 57 percent of the votes (24,459) to Foley’s 43 percent (18,386) and Visconti’s 1 percent (372), according to NBC Connecticut.

Update 8:51 p.m.: With 3 percent of precincts reporting, Malloy has 57 percent of the votes (14,831) to Foley’s 42 percent (10,016) and Visconti’s 1 percent (216), according to NBC Connecticut.

Update 7:46 p.m.: New Haven’s staffing shortage is causing issues as many turned out for same day voter registration. Some people at the back of the line won’t likely be able to vote, according to Fox CT.

Update 7:20 p.m.: Secretary of the State Denise Merrill is referring the actions of Hartford’s Registrars of Voters to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for investigation.

Update 6:10 p.m.: Update: Registrator of Voters: Ballot Mixup Shouldn’t Mean An Election Do-Over in Greenwich’s 150th District?

Wrong Ballots Passed Out Briefly in Naugatuck

Update: 6 p.m.: A Superior Court judge ruled that two voting locations in Hartford would stay open an extra half an hour after locations didn’t receive voter registration records.

Update 2:20 p.m.: Malloy, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. regarding the voting situation in the city earlier this morning.

Update: 1:50 p.m.: A hearing is expected in court after the Malloy campaign filed to have voting hours extended in Hartford due to problems earlier in the day, according to NBC Connecticut.

Update: 12:30 p.m.: The FiveThirtyEight blog has upgraded Malloy’s chance of winning to 59 percent.

Update: 12:20 p.m.: Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said that turnout around noon was approximately 17 percent, which is on target for 55 percent turnout by the end of the day.

Update 11:55 a.m.: Malloy’s campaign is heading to court to ask a judge to extend Hartford voting hours after the debacle in the city this morning, according to CT News Junkie. Hartford Democratic registrar of voters blamed the delay this morning on staff reductions and budget cut, according to the Connecticut Mirror. Republican state chairman Jerry Labriola Jr. said the state GOP would object to keeping Hartford polls open longer.

Update 9 a.m.: It didn’t take long for something to go wrong with voting in Connecticut. Reports are coming in that several Hartford polling locations didn’t receive voter lists this morning, according to WNPR. Even Gov. Dannel Malloy was delayed about 35 minutes. Secretary of the State officials are working with Hartford polling locations to resolve the issue, but in the meantime many voters have said they left.

Connecticut voters are going to the polls today in what is anticipated to be one of the closest gubernatorial elections in the country.

Incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy is going into Election Day with a three percent lead over Republican challenger Tom Foley, according to the Quinnipiac University Poll. The FiveThirtyEight blog put Malloy’s chances of winning at 56 percent, which is still the closest gubernatorial race in the country; last week he had a 50 percent chance of winning. Malloy is predicted to win by just .6 percent.

Malloy beat Foley by less than 6,500 votes in 2010.

The two candidates didn’t hold back during their last scheduled debate Monday on radio station 99.1 WPLR.

Related:

Foley Profile

Malloy Profile

Connecticut’s gubernatorial race has drawn both Democrat and Republican superstars to the state to stump for candidates. President Barack Obama appeared in Bridgeport on Sunday to help rally the base in the state’s most populous city.

First Lady Michelle Obama appeared in New Haven last week and Bill Clinton appeared in Hartford in mid-October.

Republicans brought in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie multiple times and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal also helped campaign for Foley.